What Are the Advantages of Alkaline Batteries?

Cost

• Although alkaline batteries cost about 50 percent more than the older zinc-carbon batteries, alkaline batteries are more cost-effective. This is because alkaline batteries have four to nine times the life span of other battery types and you don't have to replace alkaline batteries as often, saving you money in the long run.The cost of batteries depends on the brand name, but you can purchase alkaline batteries for from between $1 and $4 for a pack of four. Rechargeable alkaline batteries usually cost more than one-time use batteries.

Energy

• Alkaline batteries have up to twice as much energy stored in them as zinc-carbon batteries. Alkaline batteries are suitable, and hold up well,in products that require a high level of energy to operate properly. Also, alkaline batteries maintain a constant capacity no matter what kind of drain they have on them. Zinc-carbon batteries do not function well in cold temperatures. Alkaline batteries, however, can function in low temperatures including those below zero. The shelf life of alkaline batteries is up to seven years. Alkaline batteries lose about five percent of its energy every year.

Safety

• All alkaline batteries are made from chemicals that aren't toxic and you can recycle them at certain recycling facilities. A concern with all types of batteries is corrosion and them leaking battery acid once they are expired. Alkaline batteries tend to leak less than other comparable batteries, such as zinc-carbon batteries. The zinc-carbon battery leaks more because the lining of the battery deteriorates faster than those in alkaline batteries.

Rechargeable

• Many types of rechargeable batteries exist. These include nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride cells and alkaline varieties. Nickel cadmium batteries are the most widely used rechargeable battery on the market but contain toxic materials. Nickel metal hydride batteries are less popular because they only have a shelf life of three years and can only be charged up to 300 times. Compared to nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride cell rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries have four times the energy capacity. Rechargeable alkaline batteries don't suffer from the memory effect like nickel cadmium batteries do. The memory effect refers to a weakening of a battery with continual use. The memory effect says that batteries will "remember" how much they were drained and charged to. If you use a battery a minimal amount and then recharge it on a regular basis, the battery will lose some of its longevity because only a certain amount of the battery will remain active through this process. A battery will only charge as much as it "remembers" being charged.